Gratitude: Oaxaca Thanks All Who Give Support

We are not yet “out of the woods!” There is still so much more to repair in Oaxaca state*as a result of the September 7, 2017, earthquake that registered 8.2 on the Richter Scale. The quake was centered just off-shore from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Oaxaca state, where most of the damage occurred in and around the town of Juchitan de Zaragoza.

Coastal villages, like where life is as it was thousands of years ago, have no fresh water, contaminated wells from broken septic systems, fissures in earthen floors, and crumbled dwellings. The prognosis: Broken lives. Broken homes. Broken hopes. Years to recover.

The weaving and fishing village of San Mateo del Mar is one such village where anthropologist Denise Lechner and pediatrician Anja Widman are working to repair the world.

This is where I have directed the funds that have come to me by check from people who have responded to this blog and Call for Help!

I want to take this moment to thank you.

Mary James, Modesto, CA

Richard Kowalczyk, Springfield, VA

Irene Schmoller and Cotton Clouds, Inc, Safford AZ

Mary Randall, Modesto, CA

Rebecca Neigher, Durham, NC

Roberta Megard, St. Paul, MN

Eshkie Zachai and Jerry Martin, Eugene, OR

Susanne Corrigan, Tallahassee, FL

Anonymous, Makawao, HI

Liliana Rico Kennedy, Ocala, FL

Countless more of you have made donations directly to Denise’s PayPal account and I’m sending personal Thank You’s on her behalf. Others have helped through the Francisco Toledo Foundation. There is also a way to make a wire transfer to the Alfredo Harp Helu Foundation that will make a 50% match.

Mail a check to me, payable to Norma Schafer, 500 N. Duke Street, Apt. 55-307, Durham, NC 27701. I will send the funds on for direct aid to either the Toledo Foundation or to Denise Lechner. Please specify which you prefer.

In the last ten days, there have been shock waves registering 6.1 to 4.1 several times a day, throughout the region. I imagine people are suffering from PTSD. Let alone the need for mental health, the public health risks are huge.

Map of Quake Region. You can see the fragility of the coast town of San Mateo del Mar, where I have visited. Dysentery and infection especially threaten the lives of children who are less resistant to disease.

Yes, there is much to do to repair our world. We know that Puebla State and Estado de Mexico are also damaged, and the death toll has risen in Mexico City.

And, then there is our Puerto Rico, USA Territory disaster, where federal help is scant and the situation is dire, and another Twitter War points to 45’s lack of moral compass.

Where ever you choose to give, please be generous and continue to be generous. Our friends need your help.

Sending sincerest thanks, Norma

P.S. DO NOT CANCEL YOUR TRIP to Oaxaca City, Puerto Escondido or Huatulco. These areas were not affected by the September 7 earthquake. I am returning to Oaxaca via Mexico City at the end of November. I intend to be in Mexico City for several days. I will not succumb to fear!

3 responses to “Gratitude: Oaxaca Thanks All Who Give Support”

Hi, Donzetta. I don’t know, but I can ask. Are you a member of Clandestine Oaxaca Appreciation Society? It’s a Facebook listserv. You could post your question there. I’ll see what I can find out and make another comment.

Norma,
Do you know whether or not the bus route from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido is in good repair and stable. I would like to go to the Afro-Pueblos around the first to middle of January after several weeks visit in the city of Oaxaca. The Afro Pueblos are located along the coast south of Puerto Escondido. Chacauhas
is one of the three that I plan to visit.

Donzetta, there are vans that go between Oaxaca and PE several times a day. When you get to Oaxaca in January the roads should be fine. Bus is not a good option. Other option is a 30 min. flight from Oaxaca to Puerto Escondido on Aero Tucan. Right now, it’s raining and the roads may not be good, but January is the dry season. Hope this helps. -Norma

Why We Left, Expat Anthology: Norma’s Personal Essay

Norma Contributes Two Chapters!

Click image to order yours!

Norma Schafer and Oaxaca Cultural Navigator LLC has offered programs in Mexico since 2006. We have over 30 years of university program development experience. See my resume.

Study Tours + Study Abroad are personally curated and introduce you to Mexico's greatest artisans. They are off-the-beaten path, internationally recognized. We give you access to where people live and work. Yes, it is safe and secure to travel. Groups are limited in size for the most personal experience.

Programs can be scheduled to meet your travel plans. Send us your available dates.

Designers, retailers, wholesalers, universities and other organizations come to us to develop customized itineraries, study abroad programs, meetings and conferences. It's our pleasure to make arrangements.

Our Clients Include
*Penland School of Crafts
*North Carolina State University
*WARP Weave a Real Peace
*Methodist University

Maps: Teotitlan + Tlacolula Market

We send printable map via email PDF usually within 48-hours after order received. Where to see natural dyed rugs in Teotitlan del Valle and layout of the Sunday Tlacolula Market, with favorite eating, shopping, ATMs. Click Here to Buy Map